Handfasting Unity Ceremony

Jumping the Broom is well known as an African American Tradition. Couples choose to include it in their wedding ceremony because they want to honor their African American Heritage as this is what was done when a couple married on a plantation during slavery. But it also has roots as a Welsh Tradition. I had a couple who wanted to do a handfasting in the spirit of the movie Braveheart and Jumping the Broom was included in their ceremony. This is the ceremony they used:

Jumping the Broom Wedding Ceremony Script

Brooms are used for cleaning and sweeping. Therefore that they are used to symbolize the sweeping away the remnants of the past which no longer serve us is appropriate. As the Bride and Groom jump they are reminded that remaining vigilant over these aspects of the day to day shall help them to achieve the quality of life that they aspire to.

The Broom is Laid down

Now putting the past behind you, and remembering always that the power to create the future ahead of you is your own, jump together into your common future!”